diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 5d4cf158a..47d1e7a13 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -104,11 +104,7 @@ jobs:
           cache: "pip"
           cache-dependency-path: "pyproject.toml"
       - name: Install dependencies
-        shell: bash
-        # setting shell to BASH and using PYTHONUTF8 env var makes the editable
-        # install work on Windows even though there are emoji in our README
         run: |
-          export PYTHONUTF8=1
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip wheel setuptools
           python -m pip install -e .[doc]
       - name: Show installed versions
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 283742569..a1df147e6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
 
 A clean, three-column, Bootstrap-based Sphinx theme by and for the [PyData community](https://pydata.org).
 
-- 📚 Documentation: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable
-- 💡 Examples: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable/examples
-- 🙌 Contribute: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable/community
+- :books: Documentation: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable
+- :bulb: Examples: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable/examples
+- :raised_hands: Contribute: https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable/community
 
 [![Example documentation with this theme](./docs/_static/theme_landing.png)](https://pydata-sphinx-theme.readthedocs.io/en/stable)
 
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index f39c674ad..795f339cc 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -14,18 +14,18 @@ A clean, Bootstrap-based Sphinx theme by and for [the PyData community](https://
 ```{gallery-grid}
 :grid-columns: 1 2 2 3
 
-- header: "{guilabel}`B` Built with Bootstrap"
+- header: "{fab}`bootstrap;pst-color-primary` Built with Bootstrap"
   content: "Use Bootstrap classes and functionality in your documentation."
-- header: "⚡ Responsive Design"
+- header: "{fas}`bolt;pst-color-primary` Responsive Design"
   content: "Site sections will change behavior and size at different screen sizes."
-- header: "🌗 Light / Dark theme"
+- header: "{fas}`circle-half-stroke;pst-color-primary` Light / Dark theme"
   content: "Users can toggle between light and dark themes interactively."
-- header: "🎨 Customizable UI and themes"
+- header: "{fas}`palette;pst-color-primary` Customizable UI and themes"
   content: "Customize colors and branding with CSS variables, and build custom UIs with [Sphinx Design](user_guide/web-components)."
-- header: "{fab}`python` Supports PyData and Jupyter"
+- header: "{fab}`python;pst-color-primary` Supports PyData and Jupyter"
   content: "CSS and UI support for Jupyter extensions and PyData execution outputs."
   link: "examples/pydata.html"
-- header: "💡 Example Gallery"
+- header: "{fas}`lightbulb;pst-color-primary` Example Gallery"
   content: "See our gallery of projects that use this theme."
   link: "examples/gallery.html"
 ```
diff --git a/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/assets/styles/variables/_color.scss b/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/assets/styles/variables/_color.scss
index 7e4e9b8e7..c7b85341c 100644
--- a/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/assets/styles/variables/_color.scss
+++ b/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/assets/styles/variables/_color.scss
@@ -129,3 +129,10 @@ $pst-semantic-colors: (
     }
   }
 }
+
+// assign classes too, for runtime use of theme colors
+@each $name, $value in $pst-semantic-colors {
+  .pst-color-#{$name} {
+    color: var(--pst-color-#{$name});
+  }
+}